Sara A.

Verified review

Jasper did an excellent job of designing and building my computer desk and storage unit. On our first meeting he was able to translate the description of what I wanted into a drawing with measurements. On his next visit he confirmed the measurements and proposed workarounds for dealing with challenges such as the room's molding as well as taking a paint sample to match the color of the unit with the room. The results were better than I expected. The unit truly looks built-in with molding around the top that matches the molding in the room. Though it's a floor to ceiling unit, it does not feel overbearing due to the design, color and seamless attachment to walls and ceiling. He was easy to work with when making adjustments in order to accommodate placement of my computer equipment. When I specified what I wanted, I got exactly that.
Jason is an extremely competent woodworker and very fast executor. I would highly recommend him.

Lee S.

Verified review

I have much pleasure in recommending the work of M&M Construction
Eli leads a team of highly qualified, diligent and technically superior tradesmen and designers. M&M Construction have completed several large projects for me which included bathroom, laundry area , kitchen and dining area.
All work was done to a very high standard and on schedule and to budget.
I have nothing but gratitude for the fantastic work performed by M&M Construction In my experience this is very rare in any trade.
Lee Swanson

Caroline C.

Verified review

Mahya is a talented designer. Her design for my small and worn out 1970s kitchen is not only lovely, it also exponentially improves functionality. Additionally, Mahya writes well, something that matters to me. It is a pleasure working with her.

Christopher J.

Verified review

Casa Velvet is exceptionally talented with their quality of work. They go above and beyond when it comes to satisfying the customer's need. Paulina Carcach in particular was fantastic and would completely recommend her to anyone who is looking to get top quality interior designing.

Ryan L.

Verified review

Studio Banaa is wonderful to work with! Both Dane and Nastaran are amazing architects, creative in how they go about design, but really just good and honest people that know what they are doing. I have worked with them twice on two big projects in Oakland. They have been nothing but great to work with and I am happy to have them in my corner. Their level of knowledge when it comes to design is truly amazing.
And, to top it off, they respond to emails promptly, answer their phone and treat everything professionally. It is rare to find such a great team that truly gets how to get things done with such a high level of customer service!

Alan C.

Verified review

Serena and her staff are amazing designers!
They helped me to furnish my entire place (two-bedroom apt) staying in the budget agreed with no impact on the final result!
Serena always knows how to put a touch of color or the right light to every spot.
Her style is modern, simple and she knows how to make the difference with the small details.

Igor V.

Verified review

Vahid drew a plan that I later took to the San Francisco city department of building inspection and from the first try, changes to the apartment that we were planning to remodel had been approved. That tells me that Vahid is an architect who knows exactly what he is doing. He has printed 4 copies of the plan even though San Francisco department of building inspection requires only 2 copies. All 4 copies have been included into a price. I am definitely his client if I ever will need architectural plans drawn again in the future.

Tim Z.

Verified review

ISO Ideas designed our new home architecture and interior design in the Bay Area. We loved the modern style and customized details. They were very creative, fun to work with and also helped us to meet our budget. Most importantly they were very responsive and responsible to the last detail during construction. We were very grateful for their services.

Jomo T.

Verified review

If youre looking to do any rehab work on your home, Ben Tarcher & Associates should be the FIRST architects you should consider!
I purchased my first home, a three unit Victorian house (built in 1908), at the end of 2012. The house was a real-fixer up! Notwithstanding its charm and obvious potential, the property was riddled with defects, including the need to (1) build a foundation (as none existed), and (2) completely gut the two downstairs units.
Ben completely redesigned the two downstairs units. He provided me with a number of distinct architectural scenarios for using the space. Ben proved to be a fantastic resource. I found him to be extremely professional, creative, and a clear communicator, all qualities I appreciated as a new home owner.

Rachelle G.

Verified review

David is a caring and enthusiastic man and a delight to work with. He is very efficient and gets the job done quickly. I am grateful to him because, although I am an interior designer and certified color consultant, I do not have expertise in drawing to scale sketches of the spaces I'm hired to design. David helped me by doing those sketches and my clients were impressed. I gave him 4 stars only because some of the sketches needed to be redone because of miscommunication between us. I must admit though that I may have not been thoroughly clear re. measurements. David was always eager to do the best job possible, and I appreciated that immensely. Thank you David. Would hire again.

Jeff B.

Verified review

Christian Bratt is very versed in his abilities. One showing that he is capable of design and engineering the complete process for homes in and around the Lake Tahoe area. Quick response via email and phone call show that he wants to make sure the client or contractor questions or concerns are heard and responded to as quickly as possible to keep each entity working towards the goal of completing the project with the time frame. His outgoing personality makes him a fun guy to work with and i would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a great design engineer in the Lake Tahoe area.
Jeff Bahrke

Flora M.

Verified review

I hired Adam to design our home's renovation. We want to turn our one story Victorian into a two story by digging out the basement and raising the house.
Adam did a great job listening to us and included all the things we wanted in the new floorplans. He respected the old architecture of our home and neighborhood while incorporating our very modern aesthetic into the design. We're excited to see his plans come to life.

Bhushan S.

Verified review

He is the best ! He has a good design sense and skill set for home improvement projects. His drawings/designs weee very accurate and detail oriented. I enjoyed working with him and looking forward for future projects. Highly recommended!

Kristin F.

Verified review

Mike is a fantastic contractor. He is responsive, reliable, honest trustworthy and the list goes on... His work is exceptional. Mike has a keen eye for detail and design which helped me greatly in my decision process. The first home project Mike did for us was back in 2014. From that point on - he continues to be my go-to contractor.
I highly recommend Argon Construction!

Alicia B.

Verified review

I had Mary mock up a 3D model of a kitchen and bath remodel we did at the start of the year. She was very quick, and the model was exactly what we were looking for to understand what the design would look like, and to pull plans off of. She provided several views and a short video walkthrough of the space in 3D, and then accompanying plans and sections. She also went back and forth with us to edit the model/design to get exactly what we wanted. If I ever do any other work to my house, I will contact her.

MARIA S.

Lindsay C.

Verified review

Kioni and her team have always been a pleasure to work with. I have completed a number of projects with her and have not been disappointed with the quality of work and attention to detail that every project is approached with. I have come to her with a few intricate designs and she has always been up to the challenge and always far exceeds expectations. I look forward to collaborating again in the future!

Gregory H.

Verified review

I contacted Bolinger Design regarding previous owners non-permitted work on my house. Bruce went out of his way to ensure a complete set of plans were made, to include all previous changes since original build. Additionally Bruce worked with the planning and permits department to ensure the process went smoothly.
Bruce went a step further and coordinated repairs and construction necessary to bring the house into compliance with the engineering firm of my choice. Bruce walked me through the process each step of the way, and answered questions completely when I was unsure of what was involved. I can't say enough how attentive Bruce was to my needs to complete this project that would have been overwhelming to me on my own. I would recommend Bolinger Design to anyone in need of an architect dealing with non-permitted work or otherwise.

Saiid R.

Verified review

David Pruitt designed our new home, just under 10,000 SF and its separate guest house, about 1000 SF. We are extremely excited for how these two homes turned out. Every single person, including contractors, our friends, and neighbors are awed when they come to see these two homes. The part that pleased us was the fact that David was relentless in making sure that we liked his designs. Since there arefour of us in the family, all adults, it was not easy to satisfy everyone of us, myself, my wife, and our two adult kids who are opinionated more than their parents. Consequently, he gave us numerous very different designs for each of the three floors and the guest house. The house is designed as contemporary Tuscan and we like it a lot. David is very familiar with standard dimensions and therefore every room is proportionally designed to the right size and placement in the house. He is also a cool guy who is very easy to deal with and request things from even way after he had finished the project.

Q & A

Architects may work for an architecture or engineering firm, they may work for a government organization, they can work for a construction company, or they may be self-employed (freelance). The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics explains that architects spend a large amount of their working time in the home or company office: meeting with clients; creating reports and architectural drawings; and working with other architects and engineers. When not in an office, an architect is often at the construction site either as part of the development of plans or to ensure building progress is following the blueprint.

When a client interacts with an architect, it is typically to have them design drawings for the construction of a house or a building. If you are a client who has hired a large architecture firm, there may be a team of people working on your design. But if you are working with a freelance architect or a smaller firm, one person (or a small group) will take your concept and translate it into an architectural blueprint that a builder can use to construct a house. The plans will lay out everything from the depth of the foundation to the materials to use to the type of metal to be used in the reinforcement. Once the plans have been created and handed off to the builder, the architect may remain on the project — depending on budget — and oversee progress.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the median salary of an architect in 2016 was $76,930. This range included architects with every type of company as well as self-employed architects. Depending on the architect and whether they’re with a firm or independent, they may charge per hour or by the square foot, or they may charge a percentage of the total budget for a construction project. An hourly rate is typically used for smaller projects such as providing consultation, helping clients hone their concept before the design process begins, or drafting documents and plans. If an architect is working on an hourly basis on a larger project, there will usually be an agreed-upon cap on the number of hours they will work. For larger projects, such as new construction or total overhaul remodels, architects may charge a percentage of the total construction costs. The architect will usually set the percentage you will pay after the total cost of construction has been accounted for. Percentages can range within a firm depending on the extent of the services they’re providing. For example, a lower percentage of the total construction costs may include drafting and minimal consultation and guidance along the way, while a higher percentage could include on-site project management services with every detail attended to. Architects may also charge by the square footage of the project. The rate per square foot can vary depending on the individual’s training, the services they are providing, the complexity of the project, and other factors — such as obtaining permits. The national average cost to hire an architect is between $1,690 and $2,500.